Hi All
As promised here is the latest update on Finlay. We are really pleased to say that he is making fantastic progress. The vet and his carers are delighted and relieved at how well he is doing. He is gaining weight, his coat is sleek, his muscle tone has improved immensely and behaviourally, he is alert, active and really enjoying life. As you can see from the picture, he is thriving and looks like a different animal to the gaunt, underweight and patchily coated animal that was handed back to us after 4.5 months in police custody.
As you know we are committed to getting justice for Finlay and as we go through the process we are finding out more and more about what he went through. Whilst Finlay was in police custody, our legal team repeatedly asked for updates on his welfare. They were always told that he was doing well and that there were no issues. We of course now know that that was simply untrue. As evidenced by our independent vet assessment immediately after his return, Finlay had suffered considerable physical and psychological deterioration whilst under the control of the police.
We have been trying for many months to get Finlay's vet records from the police. Despite false promises that they would provide them imminently, the police retained them giving excuse after excuse as to why they were not released. Indeed even our MP, the RT Hon David Jones, called and wrote to the police on our behalf, multiple times. Our solicitors had also requested the records countless times.
After repeated pressure the police finally released some veterinary notes to us. We now know why they did not want us to have them. We were all previously reassured by the Police Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, that Finlay was well cared for. Indeed he personally wrote to many of you stating 'that all standards of care were adhered to, with regular monitoring taking place throughout Finlay’s stay at the facility'.
Well it now transpires that Finlay was left without any veterinary monitoring or care for nearly 3 months. Between the 16th March and the 9th June, no vet visited him. This is simply appalling. What is also clear is that during this period Finlay developed gastro intestinal issues, as on the 9th June, the vet attended because there was concerns he was 'passing fur in (his) faeces'. Despite identifying a health issue, Finlay was then not seen by a vet for a further 17 days until the day before he was returned to us......
This is hardly regular monitoring, it is blatant neglect and at the hands of the police. Does Andy Dunbobbin really think that this represents an acceptable standard of care for an animal that was removed from its surroundings and restrained in a brand new environment and with a new diet. We all remember the rancid horse meat that PC Richard Smith provided when he returned Finlay.
It seems abundantly clear that Finlay did not receive even the most basic care that he deserved and that he was left without veterinary monitoring and care for an unacceptable length of time. Such neglect has been robustly defended by the Crime Commissioner himself, which suggests that animal welfare simply isn't taken seriously by the North Wales Police.
That is why we will fight on to ensure that Finlay gets the justice he deserves and that crucially, important lessons are learned, so that no other animal suffers unnecessarily at the hands of the Police.
If you want to support our campaign to get Justice for Finlay, then please visit:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice-for-finlay-1/
Thanks as always and we will keep you posted as and when we get more information.
Emily (Director of Wildcat Haven) and Finlay